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Mickey & Sylvia

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Mickey & Sylvia was an American R&B duo of the guitarist Mickey Baker and Sylvia Vanterpool, who later became known as Sylvia Robinson. Baker gave music lessons and set up the duo in the mid-1950s, following the example of the successful duo Les Paul and Mary Ford. From 1954 they recorded together, in 1955 the first records appeared under the name Mickey & Sylvia, and at Groove Records they became the label's first big sellers.

Music and breakthrough

In November 1956 Love Is Strange was released. Sylvia had heard the song from Bo Diddley, with whom she had performed in Washington, and with his blessing the duo recorded a version of their own. In early 1957 it was number 1 on the American R&B chart and number 11 on the pop chart. More than a million copies were sold. The song lives on in films such as Dirty Dancing and Casino.

Influence

In 1958 they split up, although they worked together occasionally afterwards and in 1961 started the label Willow Records. Baker left for France in the 1960s. For Sylvia the duo was the beginning of a long career in the music industry. In 1973 she had a hit with Pillow Talk, and later she was a co-founder of the rap label Sugar Hill Records. Through her, a line thus runs from the rhythm and blues of the 1950s to the beginnings of hip-hop.

Listening

Listening tip. In Love Is Strange, listen to Mickey Baker's guitar riff at the beginning, which returns throughout the song. Notice also the spoken section in the middle, in which Mickey and Sylvia talk to each other instead of singing.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists